Big fine follows Kaikoura paua bust

11 August 2000

A Marlborough commercial fisherman has to pay fines and costs totalling more than $4000 after undercover fishery officers observed him taking paua in the Kaikoura area.

District compliance manager for the Ministry of Fisheries, Josh te Kaat said that officers had seen Kevin Wayne Abbott fishing on 6 April 1998 in quota area 3 where he had no quota. About 200kg of paua was delivered to a Licensed Fish Receiver the following day, and declared as taken in area 7, where Abbott did have quota.

It was claimed in Abbott's defence that the paua taken on 6 April was taken subject to a customary fishing right and was not the same paua that was delivered to the Licensed Fish Receiver the following day.

Mr te Kaat said leaders within the Rangatani iwi assisted the Ministry in satisfying the court that on the day in question Abbott did not have a customary right and the paua was taken for the purpose of sale.

Abbott was convicted of taking fish for sale without quota and falsifying returns required to be submitted to the Ministry of Fisheries.

As a result of those convictions, a vehicle and a fishing vessel have been forfeit to the crown.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Josh te Kaat
District Compliance Manager
Ministry of Fisheries
Christchurch
Tel. 03 3580 812